PALS Updated FINAL EXAM Questions And
Answers
A 12-year-old child being evaluated in the pediatric intensive care unit displays the following ECG
waveform. The team interprets this as which arrhythmia? Correct Answers: second degree
Laboratory tests are ordered for a child who has been vomiting for 3 days and is diaphoretic,
tachypneic, lethargic and pale. Which test would the provider use to determine the adequacy of
oxygen delivery? Correct Answers: Lactate
A 9-year-old patient is presenting with decreased breath sounds, bradycardia, slowed respiratory rate
and a low O2 saturation level. The provider interprets these findings as indicating which condition?
Correct Answers: Respiratory failure
A 4-year-old child is brought to the emergency department by the parents. Assessment reveals that
the child has only gasping respirations and the pulse rate is 65 beats per minute. Which action would
the provider initiate first? Correct Answers: Deliver 1 BVM ventilation every 3 to 5 seconds.
A 15-year-old patient is being evaluated during a follow-up visit after being diagnosed with Lyme
disease 2 months ago. A rhythm strip is obtained as shown below. The provider interprets this rhythm
as indicating which arrhythmia? Correct Answers: First-degree atrioventricular (AV) block
A child in cardiac arrest experiences return of spontaneous circulation but is exhibiting signs of post-
cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS). The PALS resuscitation team determines that the child is
experiencing a systemic response to ischemia/reperfusion. The team bases this determination on
which finding(s)? Correct Answers: Hypotension
Fever
Hyperglycemia
A 2-year-old child arrives at the emergency department with the parents. The child is unresponsive, is
not breathing and has no pulse. Two emergency department providers begin high-quality CPR.
Which action(s) by the providers demonstrates high-quality CPR? Correct Answers: Allowing the
chest to recoil fully after each compression
Providing ventilations that last about 1 second each
Compressing the chest about 2 inches
Giving 2 ventilations to every 15 compressions
A PALS resuscitation team is preparing to defibrillate a child experiencing cardiac arrest. For which
rhythm(s) would this action be appropriate? Correct Answers: VF and pVT are shockable cardiac
arrest rhythms.
A provider is assessing a child with suspected shock. Which statement correctly describes
hypotension and shock? Correct Answers: Hypotension is not a consistent feature of shock;
, A provider is caring for a 4-year-old child in the urgent care clinic. Primary assessment reveals
difficulty breathing and an oxygen saturation of 91%. The provider administers oxygen by nasal
cannula with the goal of improving the child's oxygen saturation above what percentage? Correct
Answers: Supplemental oxygen should be administered as needed to maintain an oxygen saturation
above 94%.
An 11-year-old soccer player is brought to the emergency department. After a quick assessment, the
team realizes this patient is experiencing a severe asthma exacerbation. Which medication would the
team administer first? Correct Answers: Albuterol plus ipratropium bromid
A child in the pediatric step-down unit is exhibiting signs of respiratory distress. When assessing this
child, which circulation finding might be present? Correct Answers: Pallor is a circulation finding that
may be seen in patients with respiratory distress.
A healthcare provider is performing a primary assessment of a child in respiratory distress. The
provider documents increased work of breathing when which findings are observed? Correct
Answers: Nasal flaring, use of accessory muscles to breathe and intercostal, substernal or
suprasternal retractions are all indicators of increased work or effort of breathing. Grunting and
inspiratory stridor are abnormal breath sounds.
An 11-year-old child develops unstable wide-complex tachycardia. Assessment reveals signs of
significant hemodynamic compromise, but the child has a pulse. The PALS team would prepare the
child for which intervention? Correct Answers: First-line treatment for unstable wide-complex
tachycardias consists of synchronized electrical cardioversion, particularly when signs of
hemodynamic compromise are apparent.
A 4-month old infant is brought to the emergency department in cardiac arrest. Which condition would
the team identify as the most common cause of cardiac arrest in an infant of this age? Correct
Answers: Sudden infant death syndrome
A 9-year-old child is brought to the emergency department because the child suddenly collapsed at
school. The child's ECG reveals the following waveform, and primary assessment findings indicate
that the child is hemodynamically unstable. Which primary assessment findings indicate this? Correct
Answers: Difficulty breathing
Hypotension
Mottling
Decreased level of consciousnes
2-year-old child is brought to the pediatric urgent care clinic by the parent who says that the child has
had a barking cough for two days. During the rapid assessment of the child, the provider hears
audible inspiratory stridor. Which common cause of partial upper airway obstruction in children would
the provider most likely suspect? Correct Answers: croup
A 6-year-old child is brought to the emergency department. The child has been experiencing
extremely watery stools over the past several days. After completing the assessment, the healthcare
provider suspects that the child may be experiencing shock. Which type of shock would the provider
most likely suspect? Correct Answers: hypovolemic
Answers
A 12-year-old child being evaluated in the pediatric intensive care unit displays the following ECG
waveform. The team interprets this as which arrhythmia? Correct Answers: second degree
Laboratory tests are ordered for a child who has been vomiting for 3 days and is diaphoretic,
tachypneic, lethargic and pale. Which test would the provider use to determine the adequacy of
oxygen delivery? Correct Answers: Lactate
A 9-year-old patient is presenting with decreased breath sounds, bradycardia, slowed respiratory rate
and a low O2 saturation level. The provider interprets these findings as indicating which condition?
Correct Answers: Respiratory failure
A 4-year-old child is brought to the emergency department by the parents. Assessment reveals that
the child has only gasping respirations and the pulse rate is 65 beats per minute. Which action would
the provider initiate first? Correct Answers: Deliver 1 BVM ventilation every 3 to 5 seconds.
A 15-year-old patient is being evaluated during a follow-up visit after being diagnosed with Lyme
disease 2 months ago. A rhythm strip is obtained as shown below. The provider interprets this rhythm
as indicating which arrhythmia? Correct Answers: First-degree atrioventricular (AV) block
A child in cardiac arrest experiences return of spontaneous circulation but is exhibiting signs of post-
cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS). The PALS resuscitation team determines that the child is
experiencing a systemic response to ischemia/reperfusion. The team bases this determination on
which finding(s)? Correct Answers: Hypotension
Fever
Hyperglycemia
A 2-year-old child arrives at the emergency department with the parents. The child is unresponsive, is
not breathing and has no pulse. Two emergency department providers begin high-quality CPR.
Which action(s) by the providers demonstrates high-quality CPR? Correct Answers: Allowing the
chest to recoil fully after each compression
Providing ventilations that last about 1 second each
Compressing the chest about 2 inches
Giving 2 ventilations to every 15 compressions
A PALS resuscitation team is preparing to defibrillate a child experiencing cardiac arrest. For which
rhythm(s) would this action be appropriate? Correct Answers: VF and pVT are shockable cardiac
arrest rhythms.
A provider is assessing a child with suspected shock. Which statement correctly describes
hypotension and shock? Correct Answers: Hypotension is not a consistent feature of shock;
, A provider is caring for a 4-year-old child in the urgent care clinic. Primary assessment reveals
difficulty breathing and an oxygen saturation of 91%. The provider administers oxygen by nasal
cannula with the goal of improving the child's oxygen saturation above what percentage? Correct
Answers: Supplemental oxygen should be administered as needed to maintain an oxygen saturation
above 94%.
An 11-year-old soccer player is brought to the emergency department. After a quick assessment, the
team realizes this patient is experiencing a severe asthma exacerbation. Which medication would the
team administer first? Correct Answers: Albuterol plus ipratropium bromid
A child in the pediatric step-down unit is exhibiting signs of respiratory distress. When assessing this
child, which circulation finding might be present? Correct Answers: Pallor is a circulation finding that
may be seen in patients with respiratory distress.
A healthcare provider is performing a primary assessment of a child in respiratory distress. The
provider documents increased work of breathing when which findings are observed? Correct
Answers: Nasal flaring, use of accessory muscles to breathe and intercostal, substernal or
suprasternal retractions are all indicators of increased work or effort of breathing. Grunting and
inspiratory stridor are abnormal breath sounds.
An 11-year-old child develops unstable wide-complex tachycardia. Assessment reveals signs of
significant hemodynamic compromise, but the child has a pulse. The PALS team would prepare the
child for which intervention? Correct Answers: First-line treatment for unstable wide-complex
tachycardias consists of synchronized electrical cardioversion, particularly when signs of
hemodynamic compromise are apparent.
A 4-month old infant is brought to the emergency department in cardiac arrest. Which condition would
the team identify as the most common cause of cardiac arrest in an infant of this age? Correct
Answers: Sudden infant death syndrome
A 9-year-old child is brought to the emergency department because the child suddenly collapsed at
school. The child's ECG reveals the following waveform, and primary assessment findings indicate
that the child is hemodynamically unstable. Which primary assessment findings indicate this? Correct
Answers: Difficulty breathing
Hypotension
Mottling
Decreased level of consciousnes
2-year-old child is brought to the pediatric urgent care clinic by the parent who says that the child has
had a barking cough for two days. During the rapid assessment of the child, the provider hears
audible inspiratory stridor. Which common cause of partial upper airway obstruction in children would
the provider most likely suspect? Correct Answers: croup
A 6-year-old child is brought to the emergency department. The child has been experiencing
extremely watery stools over the past several days. After completing the assessment, the healthcare
provider suspects that the child may be experiencing shock. Which type of shock would the provider
most likely suspect? Correct Answers: hypovolemic
